Valentine’s Day comes around once a year to remind us that romance is still alive. So we mark the day, buy some roses or chocolate and take our significant other — or our fellow single friends — out to dinner. But do we — or should we — really need this annual reminder? Some might even argue that these days, Valentine’s Day merely serves as a way for greeting-card companies to make money and spouses in the doghouse to make up for a year’s worth of relationship faux pas.

So what keeps us from celebrating romance every day — or at least several days — of the year? Could it be that perhaps couples, especially those who have shared many years together, have run out of ways to show their commitment? Have we forgotten how to take our loved ones on a date?

For those who feel like they’re tapped out of ideas for showing their other half a good time, here’s a one-stop resource for putting together the perfect date, categorized by relationship personality.

Are you and your mate adventurous? Do you crave speed — in the form of extreme sports or off-the-beaten-path experiences — in your relationship? Or are you the artsy types, who like to wander through museums and galleries, in search of that inspiring work of art or that perfect complement to your collection? Perhaps you are a casual couple, who prefers an easy night out with a good movie and some grub from one of the neighborhood’s newest eateries, or maybe you two came together because of your love of all things gourmet, and a perfect date includes exploring some avant-garde menu creations or even an experience where you can learn some new tricks in the kitchen for yourselves.

Whatever your shared predilections, you’ll find below an entire day’s date devoted to each relationship personality. Mix and match them if you find activities from more than one category fit you and your mate’s disposition. Or, if you don’t have an entire day, take one or two activities and save the rest for later. Whatever you do, set aside some time to take out your significant other — and it doesn’t have to be on Valentine’s Day. After all, we don’t need a holiday to appreciate each other — just finding each other in a world of 7 billion people ought to be enough.

The ARTSY couple

Perhaps you and your partner enjoy nothing so much as browsing art galleries or taking in the latest exhibit at any of the city’s great museums. Here’s a possible itenerary to satisfy your need for culture:

Noon — Have a leisurely lunch at La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art. This art-proximate café will give you needed sustenance for your day of walking through exhibits.

1:30 p.m. — After lunch, head into the museum to see the latest installments. *Note: If your date happens to fall on the first Thursday of the month, save this until the evening, when the museum is free from 5 to 7 p.m.

4 p.m. — If you haven’t gotten your fill of art (and when do we ever?), head on over to the concentration of art galleries in the Village. Be sure to check out Madison Gallery, Contemporary Fine Arts, Legends Gallery, Quint Contemporary Art, R.B. Stevenson, Martin Lawrence and countless other art havens. Check individual galleries for when opening exhibits might be happening. You could score some face time with some of the featured artists.

6 p.m. — Head on over to Turquoise Street for some drinks, tapas and live music at Café-Bar Europa. Jazz always goes with a day of art.

7:30 p.m. — If you’re still up for some artistic action, head over to the La Jolla Playhouse for some staged art. (Tickets recommended in advance)

The ADVENTUROUS couple

Craving some high-flying adventure with your date? La Jolla offers all kinds of extreme experiences to get your blood flowing. Check this date for the never-boring couple:

Noon — Arrive at the Torrey Pines Glider Port with a packed picnic lunch. Enjoy the awesome scenery while you wait for the ideal winds to pick up for the hang-gliding adventure of your life (winds are usually best between 1 and 3 p.m.)

2:30 p.m. — Head down the beach to La Jolla Shores, where you have your pick of dozens of kayaking companies. See the caves or enjoy the open water in a quintessential La Jolla experience.

5 p.m. — As you might be a bit peckish by now, head to The Promiscuous Fork at 6984 La Jolla Blvd. It’s sure to satisfy your adventurous cravings.

10:30 p.m. — If you’re still awake after your high-octane day, check out Birch Aquarium’s grunion run on the beach for some educational adventure. (Check times of year)

The GOURMAND couple

If you and your significant other love to make food, talk about food, consume food or learn about food, here’s the ideal romantic outing:

NOON to 4 p.m. — Take a culinary tour of La Jolla. The area has cuisine from every culture and price range imaginable. Hit up a variety of places, like Brockton Villa (perfect for the start of the day, with its world-famous Coast Toast), Herringbone, The Marine Room, George’s, Kitma Extraordinary Thai, Finch’s, Trulucks, and so on. Be sure to opt for small plates so you don’t fill up too fast!

4:30 p.m. — If you’re looking for some new gear to outfit your state-of-the-art kitchen (or if you just enjoy window shopping), take some time to browse the offerings at places like Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma.

6 p.m. — Okay, you’ve tasted the gourmet food, now learn to cook it. Take a cooking class at any of La Jolla’s many venues: Cups La Jolla, Harvard Cooking Girl or LaJollaCooks4U are just some.

The CASUAL couple

If all you want in a perfect date is a casual outing where you can enjoy each other’s company, dressed down in jeans and a T-shirt, this is the perfect date for you. Keep it simple with these options:

Noon — Pick up some easy grub at a place like Puesto. If you’re so inclined, take it to go and enjoy it outside on a bench so you can people-watch.

1:30 p.m. — Take a walk down Coast Boulevard, taking in all the sights and sounds. See controversies unfold at Children’s Pool with seals and people confronting seals. If you’re looking for a quieter experience, seek out the little-known Coast Walk. Starting near the top of Prospect at Torrey Pines, this moderate hike leads to the Cove to the west and a shortcut to the Shores to the right. It can be accessed on the north end of Park Row where it dead ends into Prospect (the parking lot is free to use).

3:30 p.m. — Now that your dogs are a bit tired, head over to Westfield UTC and experience the movies like you never have at the new ArcLight Theater. Afterward, grab a brew and burger at Eureka! — a brand-new burger joint in the shopping center.

9 p.m. — If you’re still up, check out some live music in the area. Dates and times are available on our live music calendar at <a href="http://www.sdnews.com">www.sdnews.com</a>.

COMMUNITY VOICE - What’s your ideal date?

“Simply a Wednesday night consisting of pizza and beer.” (Though if she were shooting for the stars, “a hot air balloon ride in Thailand.”)

— Hailey Clippinger

“I love the beach, so it should be something outside. I imagine my guy having a table with two glasses of wine, chocolate, candles and maybe a card. Hopefully this will turn into a reality one day.”

— Rafa Mwais

“A picnic in the park.”

— Mary Mangione

“My husband and I just love getting away by ourselves. It just kicks it up a notch.”

Date options for every coupleValentine s Day comes around once a year to remind us that romance is still alive. So we mark the day, buy some roses or chocolate and take our significant other or our fellow single friends out to...